Schneider family rocks the house with curling titles

Catlin and Lorraine Schneider have the house to themselves when it comes to Saskatchewan curling.

The Schneiders are the first Saskatchewan siblings to capture provincial men’s and women’s curling championships in the same year. As a result, Catlin and Lorraine are both poised to compete at national-championship events.

Catlin is about to curl with Adam Casey’s team at the Brier. Lorraine is a member of Penny Barker’s Scotties Tournament of Hearts-bound foursome.

“It makes it so much more special for my whole family to do it all in the same year,’’ Catlin said. “It was definitely chaotic for my parents (Jamie and Kathy). To share a provincial championship in the same year with Lorraine is pretty special.

“We’ve won high school mixed championships in the past and we lost a semifinal in mixed provincial curling. It’s just nice to see both of us succeeding individually.’’

Lorraine shared in the 2017 Saskatchewan women’s championship as a second with Barker, third Deanna Doig and lead Danielle Sicinski. The foursome advanced to the Canadian women’s curling championship, which runs Saturday through Feb. 26 in St. Catharines, Ont.

Lorraine Schneider at the Highland Curling Club in Regina on Feb. 12.Michael Bell /
Regina Leader-Post

Catlin won his first Saskatchewan men’s title a week after Lorraine earned her first provincial women’s championship. The Highland foursome of Casey, Catlin, second Shaun Meachem and lead Dustin Kidby is off to the Canadian men’s championship, March 4-12 in St. John’s, NL.

Catlin watched his sister win the provincial title in Melville on Jan. 26. Later, Lorraine was practising in Moose Jaw while Casey’s team was en route to beating Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock 11-3 in the Tankard final in Tisdale.

“I was so excited for (Catlin) because, like me, it has been his dream for so long to win a provincial title,’’ Lorraine said. “It’s overwhelming and exciting that we get to experience it at the same time.’’

Lorraine (23) and Catlin (25) hail from a curling family that has experienced success at many levels.

Jamie Schneider won Saskatchewan and Canadian junior men’s titles in 1983 as a skip while curling out of Kronau.

Jamie and his all-brother team from Kronau of Rick, Mike and Larry captured the 1990 Saskatchewan men’s curling championship.

Larry’s daughters —Kim and Tammy — played third and second, respectively, with Amber Holland’s team that won provincial titles in 2010 and 2011. In the latter year, the Holland team captured the Canadian women’s championship and finished second at the worlds.

The success of the Schneiders is related to the family’s deep curling roots.

“Catlin, my sister (Jill) and I pretty well grew up in a rink,’’ Lorraine said. “We were always watching Dad curl somewhere. Mom would pack us up and we would go to wherever Dad was playing that weekend.

“The older we got, the more we started to watch curling rather than just playing around the rink. The more you watch, the more you learn even though you don’t realize that you are learning. You just become this natural curler who has a natural feeling for the game. We have always loved watching curling, whether it’s on TV or at the rink. We were always excited to watch our Dad on the weekend.’’

Now it’s the parents of the curlers watching their kids chase curling championships.

“It’s awesome to be in the same conversation with my Dad and my uncles,’’ Catlin said. “I grew up playing against them and trying to learn from them. Being able to take that and have success with it is super special. I’m happy to be part of the Schneider clan.’’

Jamie has coached Catlin and Lorraine over the years. Jamie and Moose Jaw’s Pat Simmons will serve as alternate and coach, respectively, at the upcoming Brier.

“It’s so exciting that my dad and Catlin get to go to the Brier together,’’ Lorraine said. “It’s a dream come true for Catlin and for my dad too.’’

Realizing those dreams means a few hectic weeks for Jamie and Kathy. They have already cancelled plans for a Florida vacation in order to take in the Scotties.

“I know how hard it is to win a provincial championship in this province,” Jamie said. “We knew that Catlin’s team had the potential because I worked a lot with them. Penny’s team was playing well and they seemed to work well together. They both did it in the same year and I’ll take that.”

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